KINDLING OUR LIGHT
IN THE DARKNESS
A Be Love, Be Honest, Be Useful event, in partnership with Deborah's Tree
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Join us for a day of reflecting and sharing our experience of becoming the New Church inside and out! This event will be co-led by Sage Cole of the Helen Keller Spiritual Life Collaborative and Roslyn Taylor of Deborah’s Tree, and feature collaborative leaders Alan Cowley, Katie Hammond Holtz, Liz Kufs, Dylan Odhner, Kent Rogers, Rachel Sagerman, and Tryn Rose Seley.
Date: Saturday May 16th, 2026
Time: 10am - 4pm EDT
Location: The Lord’s New Church, 1725 Huntingdon Rd.
Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006 (The Church Hall)
Both in-person and virtual attendance (via Zoom) welcome!
In-person attendee $25 (includes morning coffee, tea, and lunch)
Virtual Attendance $10
Additional donations are very appreciated to support the work of Deborah’s Tree and the Helen Keller Spiritual Life Collaborative. All donations beyond location and food costs will be shared between the two organizations. For more information about the Helen Keller Spiritual Life Collaborative, click here: https://swedenborg.org/messenger-articles/helen-keller-spiritual-life-collaborative/
SCHEDULE
9:45am- Gathering Song Circle
10:00am- Welcome
10:15am- “Kindling Our Light In The Darkness” (Presentation)
11:15am- Break
11:30am- "Be Love" (Presentation)
12:30pm- Lunch
2:00pm- Be Honest (Practice Sessions)
Breakout groups:
1.) Walking with Integrity: A labyrinth meditation experience with Alan Cowley and Dylan Odhner of Golden-Thread Labyrinths.
2.) Guided Meditation: Mindful Movement and Deep Relaxation (lying down) with Katie Hammond Holtz
3.) Walking in Nature, Walking in Spirit: An exercise in witnessing the spiritual depth of Nature with Kent Rogers
4.) Transforming Emotions Through Creative Expression: A guided creative practice using the butterfly as a map to explore emotions honestly—transforming what we feel into clarity, boundaries, and a deeper connection to what we hold sacred with Rachel Sagerman.
3:15pm- Break
3:30pm- "Be Useful" (Presentation)
3:55pm- Closing Song Circle
4:00pm- End of Day and Clean up (volunteers are encouraged to participate!)
Breakout group leader bios:
Alan Cowley is a pastor, artist, musician, and labyrinth designer based in Horsham, Pennsylvania. He has served as pastor of Michael Church (London, UK), The New Church at Boynton Beach (Boynton Beach, Florida), and as pastor and school director at Oak Arbor Church and Montessori School(Rochester, MI). He is currently leading worship music at The Lord’s New Church, teaching middle school religion at Bryn Athyn Elementary, preaching occasionally at New Church Live, and working to build community with the labyrinth, art, and music.
Dr. Katie Hammond Holtz is a Licensed Psychologist, Senior Ordained Member of the Order of Interbeing in the Plum Village Tradition, a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Teacher, and Certified Anam Cara Spiritual Mentor. She works in private practice in Pennsylvania and leads mindfulness retreats and workshops. She has practiced mindfulness for 40 years and has led retreats for 18 years. Her custom-designed retreats and workshops, sponsored by professional organizations and educational institutions, cater to the health of the public and health care professionals.
Rev. E. Kent Rogers is a minister in the Lord’s New Church. He is a father, husband and author of 12 Miracles of Spiritual Growth: A Path of Healing from the Gospels and Seven Days of Spiritual Evolution: The Genesis of Personal Transformation.
Rachel Sagerman is a somatic guide, teacher, and longtime student of the body as a source of truth. Her work weaves together embodiment, feminine wisdom, and lived devotion — not as concepts, but as practices forged through real life. Her path into Love was forged through resilience, motherhood, and deep listening — moving from survival into presence. She is a somatic guide who teaches Love as something we feel in the body — not just something we do.